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August 23, 2011

According to the official website, "World Humanitarian Day is a celebration of people helping people. Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world no matter who they are or where they are. The day recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of those who risk their lives to give others help and hope."

Last year we blogged about Humanitarians to #FollowFriday. This year I want to focus on animal advocates and why we are humanitarians. To most readers of THIS blog this seems obvious. But I am sure you have met naysayers, people that complain of your efforts towards animals when humans are in need. In the case of Amazon CARES we get a double whammy, as we aren't even helping animals in the USA, where we are headquartered.

Helping animals helps people. Everyday new studies demonstrate the vital link between animal health and human health. As the animal health of a population increases, so does the health of the human population. In addition to improving the lives of stray animals in Iquitos and the surrounding Amazon villages, Amazon CARES is reducing animal overpopulation through aggressive capture-neuter-release programs. With a reduced number of sick animals roaming the streets, spreading disease and fighting for food, public health has improved. We have Spanish language materials to teach dog-bite prevention and safety around animals. And we have distributed human anti-parasite medications to over 20,000 humans since our start in 2004.

August 5, 2011

Thank you to June volunteer Donna Bodkin for writing this post, which originally appeared on her blog.

﻿So far our first day has included: A jungle hike to the zipline. Ziplining and hiking quickly back to catch our boat to work. Learning how to set up a mobile hospital and spaying/neutering 19 animals. Shopping in a village shop for souvenirs. Repacking all of our equipment and loading back into the boat to go back to the lodge to relax. Well, that's what we thought! After a beautiful boat ride along the river, we arrive at the lodge.
﻿

August 4, 2011

This is the story about Facundo, one of four newborn puppies who lived on the streets of Iquitos with his mother. He didn't have a home or a name, and no one cared about him – until he was rescued by Amazon CARES, and brought to live with his mother and brothers and sisters to CARES’ no-kill shelter in Cabo Lopez. When I arrived in Cabo Lopez, the puppy was still a new arrival and had not yet been named.

I named him Facundo after the beloved Argentinean songwriter, Facundo Cabral, who sang about love and peace on earth. It didn't take long to discover that Facundo was the runt of the litter, growing slower than his brothers and sisters. He always was hungry, and very weak, but his siblings would push him away from his mother when he was trying to nurse. We finally separated him from the rest of the litter to nurse; only then were able to see him eat and begin to grow.

One day as he was nursing, his mother stood up so quickly that Facundo fell down to the wood floor, his tongue still sticking out. His body was rigid; I quickly picked him up and he was unresponsive, his eyes rolling back into his head. I was frantic: Facundo, you cannot die here! He was so small, only the size of my hand, and had his whole life ahead of him. I tried to put his tongue back into his mouth but it wouldn’t work. I put him by his mother, thinking she would be able to revive him, but he remained unmoving, lifeless.

I shouted for Gustavo, my colleague in Cabo Lopez, to come, and gave him my little Facundo. I was praying, Please Gustavo rescue him, quick, quick, he will die! I then called Luis, the clinic veterinarian, who told me to bring the small puppy to the clinic. My heart sank - we both knew that if Gustavo was unable to revive him now, Facundo would be dead long before we got there.

Gustavo put water in the puppy's mouth and breathed, then more air and more water. Facundo began to show signs of life – I knew it! He wanted to live! I was overjoyed to see this sweet little dog’s eyes aware and alert. I hugged Gustavo, so thankful that he was able to revive our baby!

Facundo and I spent the whole weekend in town together. The vet examined Facundo and discovered he had a hole in his skull which could cause problems walking, seeing and hearing. Yet little Facundo showed no symptoms: he came when I called him, walking straight towards me with no hesitation. He was so adorable he would make my heart stop.

Facundo was stronger now, and able to play with his brothers and sisters, barking and defending himself when they are a bit too clumsy or rough. He slept snuggled with a plush toy turtle.

I became very attached to Facundo, and there was nothing I loved better than watching him play and grow. Even though I knew that he would soon have a lovely family of his own, I was sad to think of leaving him when my stay in Iquitos was at an end. When I left, I left a piece of my heart here with him, my own sweet special puppy Facundo.

Epilogue: After Nicola wrote this blog, her beloved Facundo passed away. The genetic defect was too great to overcome, and he leaves behind all of the clinic and volunteer workers who loved him, and admired his indomitable spirit. Vaya con Dios, Facundo; you will be missed.

August 2, 2011

Sunday morning we arrived in Iquitos and headed to the Amazon CARES clinic.

Local street dog waiting for someone to let her in the clinic.

While we were waiting for the rest of the group to arrive, we were given a walking tour of the Boulevard and the Belen Market by a man who owned a jungle tour company just a few doors down from the clinic.

For two weeks this June I had the privilege of traveling to Iquitos, Peru, and the surrounding area for a volunteer veterinary mission with the organization Amazon CARES. The group I traveled and worked with was wonderful! Here is our story. (A huge thank you to the Bodkins, Debby, and Anthony for sharing their photos!)

One of the hardest parts of the trip was just getting there. It took one day and four different airplanes to get to Iquitos, then a boat to get to the jungle.

A rough flight plan.

At the Spokane Airport. It may look like a lot of luggage, but the Hayden Pet Medical Crew brought along a lot of medical supplies to donate.